Broncos vs. Seahawks: NFL preseason betting odds, preview, and pick

The Denver Broncos will take on the Seattle Seahawks during Week 2 of the NFL preseason in a rematch of Super Bowl XLVIII. The game is set for late Saturday evening, and while Peyton Manning has long since moved on, the Seahawks still have franchise quarterback Russell Wilson at the helm.

Let’s take a look at the latest betting odds and biggest storylines before kick-off.

The Matchup

The Broncos are 1-0 in the preseason after a dominant performance against the Minnesota Vikings, while the Seahawks are 0-1 after cycling through three unimpressive quarterback options in pursuit of Wilson’s backup.

Is Drew a Lock as Denver's QB1?

One of the biggest quarterback question marks coming into this season is who will be the Broncos’ starter? Incumbent Drew Lock has experience in the offense and a good skill set to be a successful NFL starter. Teddy Bridgewater was brought in to challenge Lock, and presumably be a solid backup, but has lots of starting experience and could absolutely challenge if Lock slips up.

In the game against the Vikings, both options looked solid. Lock went 5-for-7 for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Bridgewater went 7-for-8 for 74 yards and one touchdown. Lock likely has a higher ceiling, while Bridgewater likely has a higher floor.

Expect both quarterbacks to continue to get reps in Week 2 of the preseason, with both representing significantly better options than anybody not named Wilson that the Seahawks might run out.

Will we see Von Miller?

All-Pro defensive end Von Miller suffered an ankle injury last September that put him out for the year. The star is ready to make his return in 2021, and while he hasn’t officially been announced to play this Saturday, it sounds like he is excited to get back on the field. Broncos head coach Vic Fangio has said he plans to give all of his defensive starters at least 12-15 snaps, and everyone is excited to see when Miller makes his return.

If Miller and fellow defensive end Bradley Chubb come back as explosive as they were pre-injury, this Broncos defense will likely improve on their 6.9% sack percentage and threaten to crack the top five of the league’s most disruptive defensive lines.

Broncos and Seahawks Betting Trends

• The Over is 4-1 n the last five games between Denver and Seattle
• The Over is 4-1 in Denver’s last five games
• The Broncos are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games on field turf
• The Seahawks are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall
• The Broncos are 14-6 straight-up in their last 20 games played in August

Denver's QB depth is a difference-maker

As we predicted in the Broncos’ Week 1 win over the Vikings, the benefit of having two starting-quality quarterbacks competing for the No.1 position is a huge advantage in the preseason. With Wilson unlikely to receive many snaps and Seahawks’ backup quarterback Geno Smith suffering a concussion last week, the Seahawks will not be putting NFL-caliber players on the field at the most important position.

The Broncos will look significantly more effective in the first half and will build an early lead that should hold until the end.

Score prediction: Broncos 27, Seahawks 13

NFL preseason pick: Broncos -5.5